Bold Hussar delivers dream win for O’Toole girls

By Jordan Gerrans

It was a pink day for the O'Toole family history books at Barcaldine on Saturday as the local racing clan claimed a famous victory in the feature Tree of Knowledge Cup. 

Prepared by Central West horseman Patrick O'Toole, chestnut gelding Bold Hussar upset the smart field of milers at the juicy price of $17 to land a memorable triumph for the long-time Barcaldine family. 

O'Toole, who is a former jockey in the area, had gone close in the time-honoured race at earlier stages in his training career and he was thrilled to win the race for the first time on Saturday. 

Bold Hussar is only a relative newcomer to the region and has now won two of his three efforts for the O'Toole camp after previously being prepared by Garnett Taylor at Caloundra. 

The six-year-old chestnut is raced by an all-female syndicate which includes O'Toole’s wife, his daughters as well as some family friends from Jundah. 

There was a big crop of Bold Hussar’s supporters in the Barcaldine mounting yard on Saturday afternoon to toast the $26,000 feature triumph, with the program run as a TAB meeting. 

“That was probably my biggest thrill, winning that on Saturday,” O'Toole said.

“Just especially for my family, my daughters and my wife in the ownership. He is just a women's horse.

“They've always been on me about buying them a horse, just for them - the girls.

“Anyway, this horse come along and here we are. It is the biggest race meeting here for the year, the Tree of Knowledge Cup.

“It is the one they all come for and I thought this is a race for us.”

The 59-year-old O'Toole thought Bold Hussar was a live chance in the Tree of Knowledge Cup following his victory at Longreach in late April over 1400 metres. 

“Michael Heagney rode him then and he won there at Longreach,” the trainer recalled.

“I rang my daughters after that race and I said I'll win the Tree of Knowledge Cup with this horse.

“He just peaked right at the right time. I've run second a couple of times in this race before and I've rode in it when I was jockeying.

“I've never been so confident after he won in Longreach that I could win that Tree of Knowledge Cup.

“He is a beautiful natured horse, I can't fault the horse – he is beautiful.”

With 15 in work at Barcaldine, the O'Toole stable is most certainly a family operation with several of Patrick’s close relations always pitching in to help. 

The O'Toole clan parted with a tick under $5,000 to purchase the son of Holy Roman Emperor from the Taylor barn earlier this year. 

It has proved to be a shrewd investment as the gelding has banked more than $25,000 already in three efforts. 

The stable has the Emerald Cup in mind now with Bold Hussar. The 1615 metre event to be held next Saturday. 

Veteran hoop Ross Tilley piloted Bold Hussar to victory on Saturday, with O'Toole referring to the jockey as an ‘old mate’.

The 60-year-old from Charleville was not sure about making the long drive to Barcaldine for just a couple of rides on Saturday but O'Toole was able to twist his arm. 

Tilley came from back in the field with 400 metres remaining to score by almost half-a-length. 

“It was a real big win,” Tilley said.

“A little run opened for me and I went through there.  

"The horse has a tremendous will to win and acceleration.”

The Tree of Knowledge Cup race also doubled as a heat of the Outback Racing Showcase. 

As well as the Tree of Knowledge Cup triumph, Bold Smuggler won the Class 6 Plate event over 1200 metres to complete a winning double for the O'Toole barn on Saturday. 

The O'Toole stable heads to Longreach on Sunday afternoon with three horses set to face the starter. 

Power Sister, who is set to be ridden by Heagney, will carry 60.5kg in the Battle of the Bush qualifier, which will be run as an Open Plate over 1200 metres.

Mare Power Sister has placed in her last two trips to the races.